SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 7
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS
Recycling construction waste: MOVING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
CRD Task Force news conference at Rocky Road Recycling. MHCA photo
The need to reuse CRD waste materials • Construction, renovation and demolition materials are heavy – sometimes 10% to 25% of municipal solid waste, depending on economic activity • Manitoba has committed, through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, to reduce per capita waste to 490 kg per year, by 2030 • Preserving landfill capacity is a priority • Recycling CRD waste materials would contribute to economic circularity • Metro Vancouver is the best example of a jurisdiction which has encouraged the diversion of CR&D waste, with wood-waste bans supported by wood- waste processing; drywall bans supported by drywall processing, and others
Chris Lorenc is President & CEO of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association
Colleen Sklar was named CEO of JohnQ in June, having led the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region since 2010
By Colleen Sklar and Chris Lorenc
T his summer’s extreme weather is more evidence of the urgency to reduce our carbon footprint. To that end, the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and the heavy construction industry are working with the provincial government to reduce pressure on our finite, natural resources and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) materials comprise the second largest waste stream in Manitoba, representing an estimated 20 to 30% of total waste. Given the significant environmental impact of producing such materials, it doesn’t make sense to dump what can be re-used. Other countries are leading the way, recovering and recycling construction materials, including shingles, wood, drywall, asphalt, metal, bricks and concrete, to help move to a ‘circular economy’. The heavy construction industry in Manitoba has pursued recycling: recovering water used in the production of aggregates; reusing crushed concrete aggregates pulled up in road projects; reprocessing asphalt from some roofing shingles or bituminous blacktop in paving roads. But these efforts amount to minimal diversion of the total CRD waste sent to landfill. More than 30,000 tonnes of roofing shingles, alone, are dumped each year. In June, Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein announced the launch of a task force, chaired by WMR and MHCA, to find new ways of diverting CRD waste from municipal landfills. There are numerous materials that could be recovered and reused from broader construction activities to promote resource management and environmental stewardship. The goals align with the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region’s draft Plan 20-50, which will establish a regional approach supporting waste minimization, diversion and recycling. Building resiliency in the metropolitan region is a key objective in WMR’s Plan 20-50. The WMR is the hub through which Winnipeg and the 17 surrounding municipalities can plan, coordinate and execute joint municipal services, planning and development, including infrastructure projects. The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region has a significant way to go in the adoption of new
strategies to deal with our waste. In fact, it has one of the lowest recycling rates in all of Canada and construction, demolition and renovation waste is a really solid place to start. Concrete is one of the world’s most consumed materials after water, and it contributes significantly to the waste stream. By developing regional strategies and aligning efforts, local governments can reduce the pressure on their landfills, as well as the demand for virgin natural resources, while using less water and energy. The launch of the task force June 9 was held at Rocky Road Recycling, where waste concrete aggregate is stockpiled for crushing. Rebar and other materials are separated out, so the aggregates – rock, sand and stone – can be extracted and sized for reuse in roadbuilding, parking lots or other infrastructure projects. Recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) have been used in roadbuilding in Manitoba for about 20 years. The MHCA is involved in discussions with the City of Winnipeg Public Works department toward increasing the use of RCAs, which are allowed in the construction of sidewalks, active transportation paths, alleys and some residential streets. There is growing support and impetus to recover and repurpose materials, diverting them from landfills. A recent review of Manitoba’s recycling policies and programs suggested revenues collected from the provincial levy ($10/ tonne) on landfill disposals should be earmarked for waste diversion and recycling activities rather than to support landfill operations. “Using the funding to support disposal activities should not be permitted,” said the March 2021 report by Dillon consulting. “Programs should support diversion from disposal activities and report on funded project outcomes; e.g., tonnes diverted, impact of program, GHG, and lessons learned.” The Construction, Renovation and Demolition Task Force, which will include participation from the City of Winnipeg, Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Winnipeg Construction Association and the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association, will submit a report with recommendations to the Manitoba government in the fall.
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CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA
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